BATH — The Kennebec Estuary Land Trust is offering a free “Summer Explorations” series this month and in August to get people outside and educate them about the world around them.

Willow Schwartz, a native plant connoisseur and landscape gardener, will lead a botany walk through the Bonyun Preserve on Westport Island on Wednesday, July 10. The event runs from 10 a.m. to noon, and participants are asked to gather at the preserve kiosk and wear long pants, hiking shoes and bug deterrent. Bring a pencil and pad for notes, and a camera.

A geocaching search along the Whiskeag Trail will be held from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday, July 20. Participants can meet at the Whiskeag Trail kiosk at the Bath Area Family YMCA and search the trail for creative and challenging caches hidden by Joan Janowski, a geocaching expert. Wear comfortable hiking shoes and clothing, and bring a handheld global positioning system (a limited number of GPS units will be available for borrowing; sign up at registration).

A nature and marine sketching event will be held at the Thorne Head Preserve at 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Aug. 10. David Wheeler, who delves in of illustration-based marine education, will show how “to observe and measure the forms and structures of species and biospheres,” according to a land trust press release.

The event is open to adults and families with children who are older than 6, and participants should meet at the preserve’s kiosk.

Jon Hentz, Georgetown’s shellfish warden, will lead a clam-digging excursion at Reid State Park in Georgetown from 9:30 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Aug. 13.

The land trust plans hikes this summer throughout the Kennebec Estuary. To be alerted to the time and places, join the land trust’s email list or become a fan of the organization on Facebook.

Contact Becky Kolak at 442-8400 or bkolak@kennebecestuary.org with any questions and to register. Log onto kennebecestuary.org for more information.

Alex Lear can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 113 or alear@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @learics.


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